The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2

davidbfpo · Jan 30, 2025

Dr Robert Lyman and Jack Bowsher are launching this series soon and Robert explains:

Over the past couple of weeks Jack Bowsher and I have been preparing a 12-episode series of podcasts examining the Burma Campaign, which ran from 23 December 1941 through to late 1945. It was the longest British land (and air) campaign of the Second World War. The podcasts will be airing wherever you get your podcasts weekly from Monday 3 February.

We’d be delighted if you decided to register and join us on this whistlestop journey, for this is the primary thing we discovered when trying to squeeze the campaign into 12-episodes: its not possible to cover the campaign in great detail. Instead, we fly over the entire campaign at about 10,000-feet, providing an overview of the major themes and characters. Its been great fun to record: we hope that you enjoy what we’ve pulled together.

The episodes look something like this:

1. Main themes and key figures

2. The Retreat 1942

3. First Arakan (Se 42-May 43) + rebuilding 14th Army + 1st Chindits (Operation Longcloth)

4. Second Arakan, Feb 44 (The Admin Box)

5. Imphal

6. Kohima

7. The Northern Combat Area Command

8. Special Operations

9. The air war

10. Third Arakan (Oct 44 - May 45)

11. The Reconquest

12. Q+A
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There are some "tasters" available on: The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2

bamboo43 · Jan 30, 2025

Thanks as always for these heads ups David.

davidbfpo · Jun 1, 2025

The series is now up to twelve episodes (free to access) and listed on: The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2

Dr Robert Lyman explains:

We’re also introducing some experts to the field as well, with James Holland talking about General Alexander, Victoria Schofield on Wavell, Steve Rothwell on the Burma Rifles, Philip Woods on the media war, Hannah Watson on her fantastic book on the campaign for young learners and Philip Davies on Hugh Seagrim GC.
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bamboo43 · Jun 1, 2025

Thanks David. Looking forward to hearing Steve and Philip's episodes especially.

davidbfpo · Aug 12, 2025

Nine new episodes since 1/6/25: The Forgotten War Podcast: Burma Campaign WW2

Related, though not part of the series, a 23/7/2025 podcast (54m): E181 - Blitzkrieg in Burma. The text states:

By late 1944, the tide had turned against the Japanese in south-east Asia, with the repulse of their attempted invasion of India. However, the multi-national Allied forces in Burma still faced enormous challenges if they were to retain the initiative, and push the enemy out of the country.

Every mile travelled from their supply bases, across barely-navigable expanses of jungle and mountain, exposed Allied troops to greater difficulties and risk of starvation and destruction. It was a struggle against the terrain and a race against time to liberate Burma before the arrival of the monsoon. In this struggle, intelligence and deception were essential weapons in the Allied arsenal.

In this It Happened Here episode, Head of Audiences and Programmes Vicki Pipe is joined by Research Officer Dr Thomas Cheetham to explore the 1945 battles for Burma and the race to Rangoon which formed the climax of Britain’s war against Japan.

This episode features Veteran’s Eric Rhodes, Roy Buckmaster and Dennis Underwood, from our Oral History archive.
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Access to the podcast via: Bletchley Park / E181 - Blitzkrieg in Burma

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